Latching apparatus and methods

ABSTRACT

Latching apparatus and methods are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a first latch portion including a first tooth and a first pin disposed in a first aperture defined by the first tooth and a second latch portion including a second tooth and a second pin disposed in an second aperture defined by the second tooth. The second tooth of the second latch portion is to mesh with the first tooth of the first latch portion to substantially orient the first pin and the second pin along an axis. The example apparatus further includes an actuator adjacent a first end of one of the first latch portion or the second latch portion to move the first pin and the second pin along the axis to lock the first latch portion to the second latch portion.

RELATED APPLICATION

This patent arises from a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/493,688, which was filed on Jun. 11, 2012 and is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to latches and, moreparticularly, to latching apparatus and methods.

BACKGROUND

An airport taxiway and/or gate may have space (e.g., width) limitations,which limit a wingspan of an aircraft that may use the taxiway and/orthe gate. However, the wingspan of the aircraft may correspond to amaximum possible passenger volume and/or cargo volume of the aircraft.Thus, to service a greater number of passengers, decrease fuelconsumption and/or transport a larger amount of cargo, employment of anaircraft with a wingspan exceeding the space limitation of the taxiwayand/or the gate may be desirable. To employ an aircraft having awingspan greater than the space limitation of a taxiway and/or a gate,the wings of the aircraft may fold to enable the aircraft to fit withinthe taxiway and/or the gate.

SUMMARY

An example apparatus includes a first latch portion including a firsttooth and a first pin disposed in a first aperture defined by the firsttooth and a second latch portion including a second tooth and a secondpin disposed in a second aperture defined by the second tooth. Thesecond tooth of the second latch portion is to mesh with the first toothof the first latch portion to substantially orient the first pin and thesecond pin along an axis. The example apparatus further includes anactuator adjacent a first end of one of the first latch portion or thesecond latch portion to move the first pin and the second pin along theaxis to lock the first latch portion to the second latch portion.

Another example apparatus includes a wing of an aircraft including afirst portion and a second portion. The second portion is to movebetween a folded position and a spread position. The example apparatusfurther includes a first catch disposed on the first portion of the wingand a second catch disposed on the second portion of the wing. When thesecond portion of the wing is in the spread position, the first catch isadjacent the second catch. The example apparatus also includes aplurality of locking bars. A first one of the locking bars is disposedin the first catch, and a second one of the locking bars is disposed inthe second catch. The example apparatus further includes an actuatoroperatively coupled to a third one of the locking bars. The actuator isto move the third one of the locking bars when the second portion of thewing is in the spread position to cause at least two of the locking barsto be disposed in each of the first catch and the second catch to lockthe second portion of the wing in the spread position.

An example method includes engaging a first latch portion disposed on afirst portion of a wing of an aircraft and a second latch portiondisposed on a second portion of the wing. The first latch portionincludes a first catch and a first locking bar disposed in the firstcatch. The second latch portion includes a second catch and a secondlocking bar disposed in the second catch. The example method alsoincludes actuating an actuator to move a third locking bar from a firstposition to a second position. The third locking bar is operativelycoupled to one of the first locking bar or the second locking bar. Theexample method further includes determining if the first locking bar andthe second locking bar have moved from the first position to the secondposition to lock the first latch portion into engagement with the secondlatch portion.

The features, functions and advantages that have been discussed can beachieved independently in various examples or may be combined in yetother examples further details of which can be seen with reference tothe following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example aircraft that may be used to implement theexamples disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates the wings of the example aircraft of FIG. 1 in aspread position.

FIG. 3 illustrates portions of the wings of the example aircraft of FIG.1 in a folded position.

FIG. 4 illustrates a part of one of the wings of the example aircraft ofFIG. 3 including an example apparatus disclosed herein.

FIG. 5 further illustrates the example apparatus of FIG. 4, which may beused to lock one of the wings of the example aircraft of FIG. 1 in thespread position.

FIG. 6 illustrates a first latch portion and a second latch portion ofthe example apparatus of FIG. 5 in engagement.

FIG. 7 illustrates the first latch portion and the second latch portionof the example apparatus of FIG. 6 locked into engagement.

FIG. 8 illustrates a first latch actuator of the example apparatus ofFIG. 7 locked in an actuated state.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example locking bar disclosed herein in anunlocked position.

FIG. 10 illustrates the example locking bar of FIG. 9 in a lockedposition.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart representative of an example method in accordancewith the teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart representative of another example method inaccordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughoutthe drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the sameor like parts. As used in this disclosure, stating that any part (e.g.,a layer, film, area, or plate) is in any way positioned on (e.g.,positioned on, located on, disposed on, or formed on, etc.) anotherpart, means that the referenced part is either in contact with the otherpart, or that the referenced part is above the other part with one ormore intermediate part(s) located therebetween. Stating that any part isin contact with another part means that there is no intermediate partbetween the two parts.

DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example aircraft 100 in which aspectsof the present disclosure may be implemented. The example aircraft 100of FIG. 1 includes a first wing 102 and a second wing 104. The firstwing 102 and the second wing 104 each include a leading edge 106 and 108and a trailing edge 110 and 112.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the example aircraft 100 of FIG. 1. The firstwing 102 and the second wing 104 each include a first portion 200 and202 (i.e., an inboard portion) and a second portion 204 and 206 (i.e., atip portion). In the illustrated example of FIG. 2, the second portion204 of the first wing 102 and the second portion 206 of the second wing104 are in a spread or flight position. When the second portion 204 ofthe first wing 102 and the second portion 206 of the second wing 104 arein the spread position, the first wing 102 and the second wing 104 eachprovide a substantially continuous airfoil. As described in greaterdetail below, the second portion 204 of the first wing 102 and/or thesecond portion 206 of the second wing 104 may be locked into the spreadposition.

FIG. 3 illustrates the example aircraft 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in whichthe second portion 204 of the first wing 102 and the second portion 206of the second wing 104 are in a folded position. In most cases, when thesecond portion 204 of the first wing 102 and the second portion 206 ofthe second wing 104 are in the folded position, a wingspan of theaircraft 100 is less than a wingspan of the aircraft 100 when the secondportion 204 of the first wing 102 and the second portion 206 of thesecond wing 104 are in the spread position. In the example illustratedin FIG. 3, to achieve the folded position, the second portion 204 of thefirst wing 102 and the second portion 206 of the second wing 104 arerotated upward relative to the first portions 200 and 202 such that thesecond portion 204 of the first wing 102 and the second portion 206 ofthe second wing 104 are oriented substantially vertically. In otherexamples, to achieve the folded position, the second portion 204 of thefirst wing 102 and the second portion 206 of the second wing 104 arerotated downward relative to the first portion 200 of the first wing 102and the first portion 202 of the second wing 104, respectively, with theaircraft 100 viewed in the orientation of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a part of a wing of theexample aircraft, e.g., the first wing 102, illustrating the secondportion 204 of the first wing 102 in the folded position. In theillustrated example, the second portion 204 of the first wing 102 ismovably coupled to the first portion 200 of the first wing 102 via ajoint 400 adjacent an upper wing skin 402. The example joint 400provides an axis of rotation for the second portion 204 of the firstwing 102. In the illustrated example, the axis of rotation issubstantially parallel to a chord of the first wing 102. In otherexamples, the second portion 204 of the first wing 102 folds along otheraxes.

The first portion 200 of the first wing 102 includes a first latchportion 404, and the second portion 204 of the first wing 102 includes asecond latch portion 406. The example first latch portion 404 and theexample second latch portion 406 are adjacent a lower wing skin 408. Inthe illustrated example, the first latch portion 404 and the secondlatch portion 406 are disengaged. As described in greater detail below,when the first latch portion 404 and the second latch portion 406 areengaged, the second portion 204 of the first wing 102 may be locked intothe spread position.

The example first wing 102 includes a wing actuator 410 operativelycoupled to the second portion 204 of the first wing 102 to move thesecond portion 204 relative to the first portion 200. For example, thewing actuator 410 moves the second portion 204 of the first wing 102from the spread position to the folded position and from the foldedposition to the spread position. The example wing actuator 410 isdisposed within the first portion 200 of the first wing 102 between thejoint 400 and the first latch portion 404. In the illustrated example,the wing actuator 410 includes an arm 412 coupled to the second portion204 of the first wing 102. When the example wing actuator 410 isenergized and the second latch portion 406 is not locked into engagementwith first latch portion 404, the arm 412 of the wing actuator 410extends to rotate the second portion 204 of the first wing 102 about thejoint 400.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first latch portion 404 and thesecond latch portion 406 of FIG. 4 when the second portion 204 of thefirst wing 102 is in the folded position. In the illustrated example,the first latch portion 404 is disposed on the first portion 200 of thewing and the second latch portion 406 is disposed on the second portion204 of the first wing 102. However, in other examples, the first latchportion 404 is disposed on the second portion 204 of the first wing 102and the second latch portion 406 is disposed on the first portion 200 ofthe first wing 102. The example first latch portion 404 includes a firstbracket or leaf 500. In the illustrated example, the first bracket 500has a straight profile. In other examples, the first bracket 500 has acurved profile. The first bracket 500 includes a first catch 502, asecond catch 504, and a third catch 506. Other examples include othernumbers of catches. In the illustrated example, the first catch 502includes a first tooth 508, the second catch 504 includes a second tooth510 and the third catch 506 includes a third tooth 512. The examplefirst tooth 508, the example second tooth 510 and the example thirdtooth 512 are spaced apart along the first bracket 500. In theillustrated example, each of the first tooth 508, the second tooth 510and the third tooth 512 defines one or more chamfers 514, 516, 518 and520.

In the illustrated example, the first tooth 508 defines a first aperture522, the second tooth 510 defines a second aperture 524 and the thirdtooth 512 defines a third aperture 526. The first aperture 522, thesecond aperture 524, and the third aperture 526 extend through the width(i.e., from a left side to a right side in the orientation of FIG. 5) ofthe first tooth 508, the second tooth 510 and the third tooth 512,respectively. In the illustrated example, the first aperture 522, thesecond aperture 524 and the third aperture 526 are substantiallyparallel and disposed along a first axis. Thus, the example firstaperture 522, the example second aperture 524 and the example thirdaperture 526 are substantially coaxial. In the illustrated example, thefirst axis is oriented substantially parallel to an axis extending fromthe leading edge 106 of the first wing 102 to the trailing edge 110 ofthe first wing 102 (e.g., a chord of the first wing 102). In otherexamples, the first axis is oriented along other axes (e.g.,perpendicular to a spar of the first wing 102). The example first latchportion 404 includes a first locking bar 530, a second locking bar 532and a third locking bar 534. In the illustrated example, the firstlocking bar 530 is disposed in the first aperture 522, the secondlocking bar 532 is disposed in the second aperture 524 and the thirdlocking bar 534 is disposed in the third aperture 526. Thus, the firstlocking bar 530, the second locking bar 532 and the third locking bar534 are oriented along the first axis.

The example first catch 502, the example second catch 504 and theexample third catch 506 of the first latch portion 404 are substantiallyidentical, and the first locking bar 530, the second locking bar 532 andthe third locking bar 534 are substantially identical. Therefore, adescription of the first catch 502 is applicable to the second catch 504and the third catch 506, and a description of the first locking bar 530is applicable to the second locking bar 532 and the third locking bar534. Thus, to avoid redundancy, the second catch 504, the third catch506, the second locking bar 532 and the third locking bar 534 are notseparately described. The first catch 502 includes a first retainer 536.In the illustrated example, the first retainer 536 is a stop (e.g., afastener, a lip, a protrusion, etc.) disposed in the first aperture 522.In the illustrated example, the first locking bar 530 is a pin. However,other examples employ other locking bars (e.g., beams, keyed shafts,etc.). The example first locking bar 530 defines a head portion 538, aneck portion 540, and a body portion 542. However, other example lockingbars are other shapes. A diameter of the neck portion 540 is less than adiameter of the head portion 538 and/or the body portion 542, and thefirst retainer 536 is disposed in the first aperture 522 adjacent theneck portion 540. If the first locking bar 530 moves a threshold amountalong the first axis relative to the first tooth 508, the head portion538 or the body portion 542 contacts the first retainer 536, therebyrestraining the movement of the first locking bar 530. Thus, the examplefirst retainer 536 retains the first locking bar 530 within the firstaperture 522 and prevents the first locking bar 530 from fullyevacuating the first catch 502.

In the illustrated example, a first latch actuator 544 is disposed onthe first portion 200 (see, e.g., FIG. 4) of the first wing 102 adjacenta first end 546 of the first latch portion 404. In some other examples(e.g., examples in which the first latch portion 404 is disposed on thesecond portion 204 of the first wing 102 and the second latch portion406 is disposed on the first portion 200 of the first wing 102, examplesin which the first latch portion 404 and the second latch portion 406each include an even number of teeth, etc.), the first latch actuator544 is disposed on the second portion 204 of the first wing 102. Thefirst latch actuator 544 may be any suitable linear actuator such as forexample, the actuator described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,986, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The examplefirst latch actuator 544 is operatively coupled to the first locking bar530 disposed in the first catch 502 of the first latch portion 404. Inthe illustrated example, the first latch actuator 544 includes a housing550 and a fourth locking bar 552 disposed in the housing 550. Theexample fourth locking bar 552 (e.g., a pin, a beam, a keyed shaft,etc.) is operatively coupled to the first locking bar 530 disposed inthe first catch 502.

The example first latch actuator 544 includes a first lock 556 and asecond lock 558. Other examples include other numbers of locks (e.g., 0,1, 3, etc.). In the illustrated example, the first latch actuator 544 isin an unactauted state, and the first lock 556 and the second lock 558are in an unlocked position. In some examples, when the first latchactuator 544 is in the unactuated state, the fourth locking bar 552 ofthe first latch actuator 544 is disposed outside of the first aperture522 of the first catch 502. As described in greater detail below, whenthe first latch actuator 544 is in an actuated state (e.g., inpreparation for flight, during flight, etc.), the fourth locking bar 552of the first latch actuator 544 is disposed in the first catch 502, andthe example first lock 556 and/or the example second lock 558 move to alocked position to lock the first latch actuator 544 in the actuatedstate.

In the illustrated example, a second latch actuator 560 is disposed onthe first portion 200 (see, e.g., FIG. 4) of the first wing 102 adjacenta second end 562 of the first latch portion 404. In other examples(e.g., examples in which the first latch portion 404 is disposed on thesecond portion 204 of the first wing 102 and the second latch portion406 is disposed on the first portion 200 of the first wing 102, examplesin which the first latch portion 404 and the second latch portion 406each have an even number of teeth, examples in which the first latchportion 404 and the second latch portion 406 have the same number ofteeth, etc.), the second latch actuator 560 is disposed on the secondportion 204 of the first wing 102. Thus, in some examples, the firstlatch actuator 544 and the second latch actuator 560 are disposed on thesame portion of the first wing 102 and, in other examples (e.g.,), thefirst latch actuator 544 and the second latch actuator 560 are disposedon different portions of the first wing 102.

The second latch actuator 560 may be any suitable linear actuator suchas, for example, the actuator described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,986. Theexample second latch actuator 560 is operatively coupled to the thirdlocking bar 534 disposed in the third catch 506. In the illustratedexample, the second latch actuator 560 includes a housing 566 and afifth locking bar 568 disposed in the housing 566. The example fifthlocking bar 568 of the second latch actuator 560 is operatively coupledto the third locking bar 534 disposed in the third catch 506. Theexample housing 566 of the second latch actuator 560 defines a fourthcatch 570 (e.g., a bore, chamber, a passageway, etc.) to receive aportion of the third locking bar 534 of the third catch 506. In theillustrated example, the second latch actuator 560 is in an actuatedstate in which the fifth locking bar 568 of the second latch actuator560 is adjacent the third catch 506. When the example second latchactuator 560 is in an unactuated state, the fifth locking bar 568 of thesecond latch actuator 560 is positioned away from the third catch 506such that the fourth catch 570 of the second latch actuator 560 mayreceive a portion of the third locking bar 534 of the third catch 506.

In the illustrated example, the first portion 200 (see, e.g., FIG. 4) ofthe first wing 102 includes a sensor 572, which is operatively coupledto the second latch actuator 560. In some examples, the sensor 572 is aproximity sensor, which is triggered when the fifth locking bar 568, apiston, an arm, and/or any other suitable portion of the second latchactuator 560 moves a threshold distance from the third catch 506. Insome examples, the sensor 572 is operatively coupled to the firstlocking bar 530, the second locking bar 532, the third locking bar 534of the first latch portion 404 and/or a sixth locking bar 574 and/or aseventh locking bar 576 of the second latch portion 406. The examplesensor 572 is communicatively coupled to a control system 578, whichmonitors information (e.g., a position of the fifth locking bar 568, astate of the second latch actuator 560, etc.) generated via the sensor572. In some examples, based on the information generated by the sensor572, the example control system 578 generates, transmits, and/ordisplays a notification and/or an alarm (e.g., via a cockpit display).In some examples, the control system 578 transmits and/or displays thenotification if the second portion 204 of the first wing 102 is in thefolded position or the spread position, if the second portion 204 of thefirst wing 102 is locked in the spread position, if the second portion204 of the first wing 102 is in the spread position but not locked inthe spread position, etc.

In the illustrated example, second portion 204 of the first wing 102 isin the folded position and, thus, the first latch portion 404 and thesecond latch portion 406 are disengaged. The example second latchportion 406 includes a second bracket or leaf 580. In the illustratedexample, the second bracket 580 has a straight profile. In otherexamples, the second bracket 580 has a curved profile. In theillustrated example, the second bracket 580 includes a fifth catch 582and a sixth catch 584. Other examples include other numbers of catches.In the illustrated example, the fifth catch 582 includes a fourth tooth586 and the sixth catch 584 includes a fifth tooth 588. The fourth tooth586 is spaced apart from the fifth tooth 588 along the second bracket580. In the illustrated example, each of the fourth tooth 586 and thefifth tooth 588 defines one or more chamfers 589, 590, 591 and 592.

In the illustrated example, the fourth tooth 586 defines a fourthaperture 593 and the fifth tooth 588 defines a fifth aperture 594. Thefourth aperture 593 and the fifth aperture 594 extend through a width(i.e., from a left side to a right side in the orientation of FIG. 5) ofthe fourth tooth 586 and the fifth tooth 588, respectively. In theillustrated example, the fourth aperture 593 and the fifth aperture 594are substantially parallel and disposed along a second axis. Thus, theexample fourth aperture 593 and the example fifth aperture 594 aresubstantially coaxial. In the illustrated example, the second axis isoriented substantially parallel to the first axis. The example secondlatch portion 406 includes the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventhlocking bar 576. In the illustrated example, the sixth locking bar 574is disposed in the fourth aperture 593 and the seventh locking bar 576is disposed in the fifth aperture 594. Thus, the sixth locking bar 574and the seventh locking bar 576 are oriented along the second axis.

The example fifth catch 582 and the example sixth catch 584 aresubstantially identical, and the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventhlocking bar 576 are substantially identical. Therefore, a description ofthe fifth catch 582 is applicable to the sixth catch 584, and adescription of the sixth locking bar 574 is applicable to the seventhlocking bar 576. Thus, to avoid redundancy, the sixth catch 584 and theseventh locking bar 576 are not separately described. The example fifthcatch 582 includes a second retainer 595. In the illustrated example,the second retainer 595 is a stop (e.g., a fastener, a lip, aprotrusion, etc.) disposed in the fourth aperture 593 of the fourthtooth 586, and the example sixth locking bar 574 is a pin. However,other examples employ other locking bars (e.g., beams, keyed shafts,etc.). The example sixth locking bar 574 defines a head portion 596, aneck portion 597, and a body portion 598. However, other example lockingbars are other shapes. A diameter of the neck portion 597 is less than adiameter of the head portion 596 and/or the body portion 598, and thesecond retainer 595 is disposed in the fourth aperture 593 adjacent theneck portion 597. If the sixth locking bar 574 moves a threshold amountrelative to the fourth tooth 586 along the second axis, the head portion596 or the body portion 598 contacts the second retainer 595, therebyrestraining the movement of the sixth locking bar 574. Thus, the examplesecond retainer 595 retains the sixth locking bar 574 within the fourthaperture 593 and prevents the sixth locking bar 574 from fullyevacuating the fourth tooth 586.

FIG. 6 illustrates the first latch portion 404 in engagement with thesecond latch portion 406. In the illustrated example, the second portion204 (see, e.g., FIG. 4) of the first wing 102 is in the spread position.The example fourth tooth 586 of the second latch portion 406 is disposedadjacent the first tooth 508 and the second tooth 510 of the first latchportion 404 in a space defined between the first tooth 508 and thesecond tooth 510; the fifth tooth 588 of the second latch portion 406 isdisposed adjacent the second tooth 510 and the third tooth 512 of thefirst latch portion 404 in a space defined between the second tooth 510and the third tooth 512. Thus, the example first tooth 508, the examplesecond tooth 510 and the example third tooth 512 of the first latchportion 404 are meshed with the example fourth tooth 586 and the examplefifth tooth 588 of the second latch portion 406. When the second latchportion 406 moves into engagement with the first latch portion 404, thechamfers 589, 590, 591, and 592 of the second latch portion 406 urge anyof the first locking bar 530, the second locking bar 532 and the thirdlocking bar 534 extending outside the first tooth 508, the second tooth510 or the third tooth 512 into the first aperture 522, the secondaperture 524, or the third aperture 526, respectively. The chamfers 514,516, 518, and 520 of the first latch portion 404 urge any of the sixthlocking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 extending outside of thefourth aperture 593 and the fifth aperture 594 into the fourth aperture593 and the fifth aperture 594, respectively.

When the example first latch portion 404 and the example second latchportion 406 are engaged, the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventhlocking bar 576 of the second latch portion 406 are oriented along thefirst axis. Thus, the first locking bar 530, the second locking bar 532and the third locking bar 534 of the first latch portion 404 and thesixth locking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 of the secondlatch portion 406 are substantially coaxial when the second portion 204of the first wing 102 is in the spread position. In the illustratedexample, the first latch actuator 544 is in the unactauted state, andthe second latch actuator 560 is in the actuated state. As a result, thefirst locking bar 530, the second locking bar 532, the third locking bar534, the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 are in afirst position where only one of the first locking bar 530, the secondlocking bar 532, the third locking bar 534, the sixth locking bar 574and the seventh locking bar 576 is disposed in each one of the firsttooth 508, the second tooth 510, the third tooth 512, the fourth tooth586, and the fifth tooth 588. Thus, the first locking bar 530, thesecond locking bar 532, the third locking bar 534, the sixth locking bar574 and the seventh locking bar 576 do not interfere with movement ofthe second latch portion 406 relative to the first latch portion 404. Asa result, the second latch portion 406 is not locked into engagementwith the first latch portion 404, and the wing actuator 410 (FIG. 10) isfree to move the second portion 204 of the first wing 102 from thespread position to the folded position.

FIG. 7 illustrates the example first latch portion 404 and the examplesecond latch portion 406 when the second portion 204 (see, e.g., FIG. 4)of the first wing 102 is locked in the spread position. In someexamples, the example second latch actuator 560 is continuouslyenergized and the first latch actuator 544 is selectively energizedduring operation of the example aircraft 100. In some examples, when thefirst latch actuator 544 is energized, the first latch actuator 544provides a greater driving force than a driving force provided by thesecond latch actuator 560. In some examples in which the first latchactuator 544 and the second latch actuator 560 are hydraulic actuators,a piston face area of the second latch actuator 560 is less than apiston face area of the first latch actuator 544. In some such examples,the first latch actuator 544 and the second latch actuator 560 areenergized via about the same hydraulic pressure (e.g., 3000 pounds persquare inch) and, thus, the first latch actuator 544 provides a greaterdriving force to the first locking bar 530 disposed in the first catch502 than the driving force provided by the second latch actuator 560 tothe third locking bar 534 disposed in the third catch 506. As a result,the first latch actuator 544 moves the first locking bar 530, the secondlocking bar 532, the third locking bar 534, the fourth locking bar 552,the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 along thefirst axis toward the second latch actuator 560 and back-drives thefifth locking bar 568 of the second latch actuator 560.

In the illustrated example, the first latch actuator 544 has moved aportion of the fourth locking bar 552 of the first latch actuator 544into the first aperture 522 of the first catch 502 to move the firstlocking bar 530, the second locking bar 532, the third locking bar 534,the fifth locking bar 568, the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventhlocking bar 576 along the first axis to a second position. In someexamples, when the example first latch actuator 544 moves the firstlocking bar 530, the second locking bar 532, the third locking bar 534,the fourth locking bar 552, the fifth locking bar 568, the sixth lockingbar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 from the first position to thesecond position, the first locking bar 530, the second locking bar 532,the third locking bar 534, the fourth locking bar 552, the fifth lockingbar 568, the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 moveless than a distance corresponding to the width of any one of the firsttooth 508, the second tooth 510, the third tooth 512, the fourth tooth586 and the fifth tooth 588. As a result, in the illustrated example,two of the first locking bar 530, the second locking bar 532, the thirdlocking bar 534, the fourth locking bar 552, the fifth locking bar 568,the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 are disposedin each one of the first catch 502, the second catch 504, the thirdcatch 506, the fourth catch 570, the fifth catch 582 and the sixth catch584.

Thus, when the first latch actuator 544 moves the first locking bar 530,the second locking bar 532, the third locking bar 534, the fourthlocking bar 552, the fifth locking bar 568, the sixth locking bar 574and the seventh locking bar 576 to the second position, the firstlocking bar 530, the second locking bar 532, the third locking bar 534,the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 substantiallyprevent movement of the second latch portion 406 relative to the firstlatch portion 404. As a result, the second portion 204 (see, e.g., FIG.4) of the first wing 102 is locked in the spread position.

In the illustrated example, the sensor 572 and/or the control system 578determines if the second portion 204 of the first wing 102 is locked inthe spread position based on the state (e.g., the actuated state or theunactuated state) of the second latch actuator 560 and/or based on aposition of one or more of the first locking bar 530, the second lockingbar 532, the third locking bar 534, the fourth locking bar 552, thefifth locking bar 568, the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventh lockingbar 576. In some examples, to determine the state of the second latchactuator 560, the sensor 572 detects a position of the fifth locking bar568 of the second latch actuator 560.

In the illustrated example, the first lock 556 and the second lock 558of the first latch actuator 544 are in an unlocked position. Thus, ifthe first latch actuator 544 is de-energized, the example second latchactuator 560 moves the first locking bar 530, the second locking bar532, the third locking bar 534, the fourth locking bar 552, the fifthlocking bar 568, the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar576 to the first position and unlocks the second latch portion 406 fromengagement with the first latch portion 404.

FIG. 8 illustrates the example first latch actuator 544 locked in theactuated state. In the illustrated example, the first latch actuator 544is in an actuated state, and the first lock 556 and the second lock 558are in a locked position. As a result, the first lock 556 and/or thesecond lock 558 lock the first latch actuator 544 in the actuated state.If the example first latch actuator 544 of FIG. 8 is de-energized, thefirst lock 556 and/or the second lock 558 holds the first latch actuator544 in the actuated state, and the first latch portion 404 and thesecond latch portion 406 remain locked into engagement.

FIG. 9 illustrates another example locking bar 900 disclosed herein,which may be used to implement the example first latch portion 404and/or the example second latch portion 406 of FIGS. 4-8. In theillustrated example, the locking bar 900 is in the first position and,thus, the example locking bar 900 is disposed only in the first tooth508. The example locking bar 900 includes a head portion 902, a neckportion 904, and a body portion 906. In the illustrated example, theneck portion 904 and the head portion 902 define a chamber 908. A spring910 is disposed in the chamber 908 and coupled to the head portion 902and the first retainer 536. When the locking bar 900 is in the firstposition, the spring 910 is substantially not energized (i.e.,compressed or extended). Thus, if the locking bar 900 moves from thefirst position, the spring 910 urges the locking bar 900 toward thefirst position. As a result, the spring 910 substantially maintains thelocking bar 900 in the first position unless the first latch actuator544 (see, e.g., FIG. 5) moves the locking bar 900.

FIG. 10 illustrates the example locking bar 900 of FIG. 9 in the secondposition. In the illustrated example, the fourth locking bar 552 of thefirst latch actuator 544 has moved the example locking bar 900 along thefirst axis relative to the first tooth 508. As a result, the locking bar900 has moved such that the locking bar 900 is disposed in both thefirst tooth 508 and the fourth tooth 586, and the spring 910 iscompressed between the head portion 902 of the locking bar 900 and thefirst retainer 536. Thus, spring 910 biases the locking bar 900 towardthe first position.

In the illustrated example, each end 1000 and 1002 of the locking bar900 defines one or more chamfers 1004, 1006, 1008 and 1010. In someexamples, the ends 1000 and 1002 of the locking bar 900 are tapered. Inthe illustrated example, the diameter of the example locking bar 900 isabout one quarter of the length of the locking bar 900. However, theabove-noted shapes and dimensions are merely examples and, thus, othershapes and dimensions may be used without departing from the scope ofthis disclosure.

FIGS. 11 and 12 depict example flow diagrams representative of methodsor processes that may be implemented using, for example, computerreadable instructions. The example processes of FIGS. 11 and 12 may beperformed using a processor, a controller and/or any other suitableprocessing device. For example, the example processes of FIGS. 11 and 12may be implemented using coded instructions (e.g., computer readableinstructions) stored on a tangible computer readable medium such as aflash memory, a read-only memory (ROM), and/or a random-access memory(RAM). As used herein, the term tangible computer readable medium isexpressly defined to include any type of computer readable storage andto exclude propagating signals. Additionally or alternatively, theexample processes of FIGS. 11 and 12 may be implemented using codedinstructions (e.g., computer readable instructions) stored on anon-transitory computer readable medium such as a flash memory, aread-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a cache, or anyother storage media in which information is stored for any duration(e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, brief instances, fortemporarily buffering, and/or for caching of the information). As usedherein, the term non-transitory computer readable medium is expresslydefined to include any type of computer readable medium and to excludepropagating signals.

Alternatively, some or all of the example processes of FIGS. 11 and 12may be implemented using any combination(s) of application specificintegrated circuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)),field programmable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)), discrete logic, hardware,firmware, etc. Also, one or more operations depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12may be implemented manually or as any combination(s) of any of theforegoing techniques, for example, any combination of firmware,software, discrete logic and/or hardware.

Further, although the example processes of FIGS. 11 and 12 are describedwith reference to the flow diagrams of FIGS. 11 and 12, respecitvely,other methods of implementing the processes of FIGS. 11 and 12 may beemployed. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may bechanged, and/or some of the blocks described may be changed, eliminated,sub-divided, or combined. Additionally, one or more of the operationsdepicted in FIGS. 11 and 12 may be performed sequentially and/or inparallel by, for example, separate processing threads, processors,devices, discrete logic, circuits, etc.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart representative of an example method 1100 that canbe performed to lock a foldable wing such as, for example, the firstwing 102 of FIGS. 1-4 in the spread position. With reference to FIGS.1-10, the example method of FIG. 11 begins by engaging the first latchportion 404 disposed on the first portion 200 of the first wing 102 ofthe aircraft 100 and the second latch portion 406 disposed on the secondportion 204 of the first wing 102 (block 1102). For example, to engagethe first portion 200 of the first wing 102 and the second portion 204of the first wing 102, the example wing actuator 410 moves the secondportion 204 of the first wing 102 from the folded position to the spreadposition.

In the illustrated example, the first latch portion 404 includes thefirst catch 502, the second catch 504 and the third catch 506; thesecond latch portion 406 includes the fifth catch 582 and the sixthcatch 584. However, other examples include other numbers of catches. Oneof the first locking bar 530, the second locking bar 532, the thirdlocking bar 534, the fifth locking bar 568, the sixth locking bar 574and the seventh locking bar 576 is disposed in each one of the firstcatch 502, the second catch 504, the third catch 506, the fourth catch570, the fifth catch 582 and the sixth catch 584. In some examples, eachof the first locking bar 530, the second locking bar 532, the thirdlocking bar 534, the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar576 is urged toward the first position (e.g., an unlocked position) viaa spring such as, for example, the example spring 910 of FIGS. 9 and 10.When the first latch portion 404 and the second latch portion 406 areengaged, the first locking bar 530, the second locking bar 532, thethird locking bar 534, the fourth locking bar 552, the fifth locking bar568, the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 areoriented along the first axis.

At block 1104, the first latch actuator 544 is actuated to move thefirst locking bar 530, the second locking bar 532, the third locking bar534, the fourth locking bar 552, the fifth locking bar 568, the sixthlocking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 from the first positionto the second position (e.g., a locked position). When the first latchactuator 544 is actuated, the fourth locking bar 552 of the first latchactuator 544 moves the first locking bar 530, the second locking bar 532and the third locking bar 534 of the first latch portion 404 and thesixth locking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 of the secondlatch portion 406 such that two of the first locking bar 530, the secondlocking bar 532, the third locking bar 534, the fourth locking bar 552,the fifth locking bar 568, the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventhlocking bar 576 are disposed in each one of the first catch 502, thesecond catch 504, the third catch 506, the fourth catch 570, the fifthcatch 582 and the sixth catch 584.

At block 1106, the sensor 572 and/or the control system 578 determinesif the first locking bar 530, the second locking bar 532, the thirdlocking bar 534, the fourth locking bar 552, the fifth locking bar 568,the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 have movedfrom the first position to the second position to lock the first latchportion 404 into engagement with the second latch portion 406. Forexample, when the first latch actuator 544 moves the first locking bar530, the second locking bar 532, the third locking bar 534, the fourthlocking bar 552, the fifth locking bar 568, the sixth locking bar 574and the seventh locking bar 576, the second latch actuator 560 isback-driven to the unactuated state. In some such examples, based oninformation (e.g., a position of the fifth locking bar 568 of the secondlatch actuator 560, etc.) acquired by the sensor 572, the control system578 determines that the second latch actuator 560 is in the unactuatedstate and, thus, the first latch portion 404 is locked into engagementwith the second latch portion 406. In some examples, the control system578 determines if the first latch portion 404 and the second latchportion 406 are locked into engagement based on a proximity of thesensor 572 to one or more of the first locking bar 530, the secondlocking bar 532, the third locking bar 534, the fourth locking bar 552,the fifth locking bar 568, the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventhlocking bar 576, a piston of the second latch actuator 560, and/or anyother suitable portion of the second latch actuator 560.

If the sensor 572 and/or the control system 578 determine that the firstlocking bar 530, the second locking bar 532, the third locking bar 534,the fourth locking bar 552, the fifth locking bar 568, the sixth lockingbar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 moved to lock the first latchportion 404 into engagement with the second latch portion 406, the firstlatch actuator 544 is locked in the actuated state (block 1108). In someexamples, the first lock 556 and/or the second lock 558 of the firstlatch actuator 544 is moved to the locked position to lock the firstlatch actuator 544 in the actuated state. In such examples, if the firstlatch actuator 544 is de-energized, the first lock 556 and/or the secondlock 558 hold the first latch actuator 544 in the actuated state, andthe second portion 204 of the first wing 102 remains locked in thespread position. If the sensor 572 and/or the control system 578determine that the first locking bar 530, the second locking bar 532,the third locking bar 534, the fourth locking bar 552, the fifth lockingbar 568, the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 didnot move to lock the first latch portion 404 into engagement with thesecond latch portion 406, an alert is provided (block 1110). Forexample, the control system 578 generates an alarm (e.g., a noise, avisual indication, etc.), which is displayed in the cockpit.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart representative of another example method 1200that can be performed to enable the second portion 204 of the first wing102 to move from the spread position to the folded position. Withreference to FIGS. 1-10, the example method of FIG. 12 begins byunlocking the first latch actuator 544 from the actuated state (block1202). In some examples, the first latch actuator 544 is unlocked fromthe actuated state by moving the first lock 556 and/or the second lock558 to the unlocked position. At block 1204, the first latch actuator544 is actuated to move the first locking bar 530, the second lockingbar 532, the third locking bar 534, the fourth locking bar 552, thefifth locking bar 568, the sixth locking bar 574 and the seventh lockingbar 576 from a locked position (e.g., the second position) to anunlocked position (e.g., the first position). In some examples, thefirst latch actuator 544 is actuated by de-energizing the first latchactuator 544 (e.g., by decreasing a hydraulic pressure provided to thefirst latch actuator 544). In some such examples, the second latchactuator 560, which may be continuously energized, drives the firstlocking bar 530, the second locking bar 532, the third locking bar 534,the fourth locking bar 552, the fifth locking bar 568, the sixth lockingbar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 to the unlocked position whenthe first latch actuator 544 is de-energized.

At block 1206, the sensor 572 and/or the control system 578 determine ifthe first locking bar 530, the second locking bar 532, the third lockingbar 534, the fourth locking bar 552, the fifth locking bar 568, thesixth locking bar 574 and the seventh locking bar 576 have moved fromthe locked position to the unlocked position to unlock the first latchportion 404 from engagement with the second latch portion 406. In someexamples, the sensor 572 determines if the first locking bar 530, thesecond locking bar 532, the third locking bar 534, the fourth lockingbar 552, the fifth locking bar 568, the sixth locking bar 574 and theseventh locking bar 576 have moved to the unlocked position based on aproximity of the sensor 572 to one or more of the first locking bar 530,the second locking bar 532, the third locking bar 534, the fourthlocking bar 552, the fifth locking bar 568, the sixth locking bar 574and the seventh locking bar 576, the piston of the second latch actuator560, and/or any other portion of the second latch actuator 560. In somesuch examples, if the second latch actuator 560 has moved to theactuated position, then the sensor 572 and/or the control system 578determine that the first latch portion 404 is unlocked from engagementwith the second latch portion 406. If the sensor 572 and/or the controlsystem 578 determines that the first latch portion 404 is unlocked fromthe second latch portion 406, the first latch portion 404 and the secondlatch portion 406 are disengaged (block 1208). For example, the wingactuator 410 is actuated to rotate the second portion 204 of the firstwing 102 about the joint 400 to move the second portion 204 of the firstwing 102 to the folded position. If the sensor 572 and/or the controlsystem 578 determines that the first latch portion 404 is not unlocked(e.g., remains locked) from engagement with the second latch portion406, an alert is provided. For example, the control system 578 generatesand/or displays the alert in the cockpit of the aircraft 100.

Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacturehave been described herein, the scope of coverage of this disclosure isnot limited thereto. On the contrary, this disclosure covers allmethods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within thescope of the claims.

The Abstract at the end of this disclosure is provided to comply with 37C.F.R. §1.72(b) to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature ofthe technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that itwill not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a wing of an aircraftincluding a first portion and a second portion, the second portion tomove between a folded position and a spread position; a first catchdisposed on the first portion of the wing and a second catch disposed onthe second portion of the wing, the first catch adjacent the secondcatch when the second portion of the wing is in the spread position; aplurality of locking bars, a first one of the locking bars disposed inthe first catch, a second one of the locking bars disposed in the secondcatch; and an actuator operatively coupled to a third one of the lockingbars, the actuator to move the third one of the locking bars when thesecond portion of the wing is in the spread position to cause at leasttwo of the locking bars to be disposed in each of the first catch andthe second catch to lock the second portion of the wing in the spreadposition.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor todetermine if the second portion of the wing is locked in the spreadposition.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises alock to lock the actuator in an actuated state.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the locking bars are to be substantially coaxial whenthe second portion is in the spread position.
 5. The apparatus of claim1, further comprising a second actuator operatively coupled to one ofthe locking bars, the second actuator to be back-driven when the lockingbars are moved via the actuator.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the first catch and the second catch includes a retainer tolimit movement of one of the locking bars.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein at least one of the first catch and the second catch defines achamfer.
 8. A method, comprising: engaging a first latch portiondisposed on a first portion of a wing of an aircraft and a second latchportion disposed on a second portion of the wing, the first latchportion including a first catch and a first locking bar disposed in thefirst catch, the second latch portion including a second catch and asecond locking bar disposed in the second catch; actuating an actuatorto move a third locking bar from a first position to a second position,the third locking bar operatively coupled to one of the first lockingbar or the second locking bar; and determining if the first locking barand the second locking bar have moved from the first position to thesecond position to lock the first latch portion into engagement with thesecond latch portion.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprisinglocking the actuator in an actuated state.
 10. The method of claim 8,wherein engaging the first latch portion and the second latch portioncomprises moving the second portion of the wing from a folded positionto a spread position.
 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:actuating the actuator to move the third locking bar from the secondposition to the first position; and determining if the first locking barand the second locking bar have moved from the second position to thefirst position to unlock the first latch portion from engagement withthe second latch portion.
 12. The method of claim 8, further comprisingdisengaging the first latch portion and the second latch portion.